CH. xv CONDITIONS OF MILK SUPPLY 259 



loaded up and the distribution at once takes place. The pol- 

 lution at the byre is the only pollution to which the milk is 

 subjected, and practically no multiplication of bacteria takes 

 place between collection and distribution. The only likelihood 

 of such increase is in cases where all the milk is not sold, 

 and the unsold balance is kept and vended at the next pur- 

 veying time, whether in the afternoon or the following 

 morning. 



Farmers who deal with their milk in this way rarely or 

 never cool it. For example, in the Borough of Colchester, out 

 of 26 farms selling milk, almost all was sold locally, and 

 upon none of them was the milk cooled. In rural areas 

 some distance from a convenient urban population the milk 

 has to be sent considerable distances, and almost always 

 by rail. The milk is either sent off direct by the farmer to 

 the town, or he delivers it at a conveniently situated milk 

 depot or factory. In the former case the farmer should, but 

 does not invariably, cool his milk before sending it away. His 

 only means of cooling may be by standing the churn in cold 

 water, but mostly when he does cool it he runs it through 

 one of the different coolers on the market. 



When the milk is sent to a milk factory, the farmer 

 usually delivers it twice a day uncooled and as soon as possible 

 after collection. The milk factory owner cools the milk and often 

 pasteurises it as well in the summer, and sends it away by rail. 

 The churns of the farmer are frequently steamed and washed 

 for him at the factory. Many of the milk factories or depots 

 are in connection with large milk companies in the town, but 

 some are independent local enterprises. 



Most of the milk depots seen by the writer have had f 

 proper cement floors, have been provided with a good water ' 

 supply, and have suitable facilities for steaming and cleansing 

 the churns. They are built conveniently situated in relation 

 to a railway station. Fig. 1 7 illustrates conditions often met 

 with on small milk factories and on the premises of the larger 

 dairymen. Apart from the unsatisfactory jointed floor the 

 arrangements shown are reasonably satisfactory. 



The present conditions of railway milk transit in England 

 are decidedly unsatisfactory. The majority of the churns used 

 are of unwieldy size (17 gallons), and being of bad shape and 



